Caitlin Howlett
Program / Grad Year: Laurier MBA 2010
Previous Education: BA Kinesiology, Wilfrid Laurier University
Employment prior to the Laurier MBA: Laurier OneCard
Current Employment: Research In Motion
How did the Laurier MBA help your career?
The Laurier MBA positively changed my career path within four months. Since much of the coursework is devoted to group projects, I established a core group of friends and was able to learn about all their different careers including a few at RIM. A casual discussion about available opportunities at RIM with a few of my classmates and demonstration of strong leadership, critical thinking and management skills in a group setting, led to a referral for a position in project management at RIM. By the start of my second term of the MBA program, I had made the switch from Student Services at Laurier to R&D at RIM. The career change has since brought me a sense of accomplishment and achievement I never thought possible. I love working for RIM because of its fast-paced environment, innovation and friendly and supportive corporate culture. I am one of the few who can honestly say that the part-time MBA program is the reason why I work at one of the best companies in the world.
The MBA program has also improved the way I approach my day-to-day work and has given me theory and practical application that lets me recommend and implement change on a regular basis. I feel empowered in my role at RIM and much of that comes from the classroom and group learning in the MBA program.
What opportunities has your MBA degree provided?
The Laurier MBA has afforded me lots of different opportunities. BU610 in particular provided a great challenge to consult for a real company and was a test of my abilities to lead a team and manage a project with multiple deliverables under tight timelines. The NFP component of 610 also gave me the opportunity to volunteer with Sustainable Waterloo which led to a long-term volunteer commitment that makes use of my marketing skills. I found many of the elective courses to be very practical, hands on and interactive, including Communications in a Managerial Context (648), Competitive Strategy for a Sustainable World (701) and High-tech Marketing (632). An independent study (690) was also quite a rewarding experience tackling the topic of a Results-Only Work Environment and drafting an article that has the potential to be submitted to an academic journal.
My very first course, BU 604, set the framework for my approach to managing people and creating a work culture that fosters creativity, support and hard work, and was one of the reasons I received the University of Windsor’s Student’s Choice Outstanding Supervisor Award.
The program also provided unique learning opportunities such as the Aspen Case Competition. This was an optional but worthwhile experience to work with a new group of students and really test my critical thinking skills on a sustainability focused business case.
I also got involved in the MBA Golf Tournament and have contributed as a committee member for the last three year and brought forth some sponsorship from RIM and other local businesses. This experience led to a great networking opportunity with the past-president of the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association. I was encouraged to apply for a director position as a result of my leadership, commitment and ideas, and was appointed to the WLUAA Board in April 2009. I have really enjoyed the director experience and ability to evaluate and implement change at high-level, and for that reason also took on a director role with the Clair Hills Community Association in April 2010.
What did you like most about your Laurier experience?
The MBA afforded me so many different opportunities to network and interact with some of the community’s foremost business leaders and innovators. I made wonderful and lasting friendships and have a core group of almost 50 classmates that I anticipate will continue to stay in touch. I also became a better critical thinker, a more focused student in the classroom, an engaged community member and generally gained more knowledge about the world around me and the role of business in it.
What are your career aspirations?
I would like to experience more of the project management role at RIM, and one day I hope to run my own business. I have many different passions including consulting, writing, culinary arts and fitness that I believe could all be leveraged to support some unique business opportunities. I would also like experience other Board of Director opportunities within Waterloo and particularly the high-tech industry as well as the not-for-profit sector.